7 Days Out: Your guide to fun in the South Sound

As the weather changes and gardens start changing as well, plan to take in the Fall Garden Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The free community event will feature garden tours, lectures, educational and vendor displays as well as kids activities. Events center around the Point Defiance Park pagoda, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. For more information, call 253-305-1000.

Saturday

Apple juice with a kick

Sample nearly 50 varieties of alcoholic ciders at the first Cider Swig: The Greater Peninsula Cider Festival on Saturday. Local cideries will be on hand to offer samples and answer questions while local area restaurants will offer select food pairings. Listen to live music from area bands including Budapest West, Spare Thyme, Billy Farmer, Lobo Del Mar and The Early Birds. You also can bring the kids to the children’s area to enjoy games and activities. It is noon-5 p.m. at Sehmel Homestead Park, 10123 78th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor. Tickets are $28 in advance online, $32 at the gate and $10 designated driver. For more information, go to ciderswig.eventbrite.com or call 253-514-6338.

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Elton John is a performer who needs little introduction. He’s sold more than 300 million records, had 58 Billboard Top 40 singles and is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He will perform an 8 p.m. concert Saturday at KeyArena, 305 Harrison St.. Tickets are $50.40-$178.48 and are available through Ticketmaster.

Sunday

A session with Jeremy

Support the Immanuel Presbyterian Church and Pierce County Habitat for Humanity build at a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Sunday. It will feature Jeremy Clyde, from the British duo Chad & Jeremy, including an informal preview of his first solo album, “The Bottom Drawer Sessions.” Opening for the concert will be Rick Jones and Valerie Neale. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged to support the Guatemala build in 2016. It’s at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 901 N. J St., Tacoma. Go to ipctacoma.org for more information.

Saturday-Sunday

Best in the west

Head out to the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, for the West Coast Open Martial Arts Championships this weekend to see some of the finest martial arts competitors from Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Montana and Idaho. There also will be seminars by three-time World Karate Federation champion Elisa Au Fonseca. Competition begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, general admission is $5, children 5 and younger are free. To find out more, go to westcoastopen.com.

Friday-Oct. 5

Precious jewels

George Balanchine’s “Jewels” pays tribute to golden ages of music and dance with a trio of dances: “Emeralds,” “Rubies” and “Diamonds.” Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of Balanchine’s work opens Friday (Sept. 26) and continues through Oct. 5 at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Showtimes vary, with tickets starting at $30. Go to pnb.org to order yours.

Saturday—Sunday

Beyond wine and pasta

Seattle Center’s Festál series presents the Italian Festival this weekend and will celebrate the Italian culture. There will be live music, food vendors, crafts, puppet theater, a grape-stomping contest, a pizza toss and more family-friendly activities to enjoy. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, go to festaseattle.com

Friday

Remedies

Old Crow Medicine Show is making a statement in the country and folk music world. They’re fresh off of a year of accolades that included being inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry, winning a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video and the release of their new album, “Remedy.” See them perform in an 8 p.m. show Friday (Sept. 26) at Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, Seattle. Tickets are $23.75-$38.75 and are available by phone or online; 877-784-4849, stgpresents.org